Method of preventing or reducing water ingress into a tire inflation system

Abstract

A method and system of preventing or reducing water ingress into a tire inflation system is provided.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of preventing or reducing water ingress into a tire inflation system, comprising:
 providing a control unit, the control unit having at least one of a valve assembly, a pressure transducer, and an electronic control portion located within a housing; 
 measuring a cavity pressure of the housing; and 
 if the cavity pressure increases to a predetermined amount above atmospheric pressure, then providing one or more pulses of air into the housing, 
 wherein the cavity pressure is compared to a last measured atmospheric pressure before or upon entering a fording operation. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the tire inflation system utilizes a single pressure sensor to sense tire pressure, atmospheric pressure, and enclosure pressure. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising operating the tire inflation system to automatically inflate and/or deflate a tire in response to measured tire pressure. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein in response to the comparison, one or more pulses are provided at a first frequency until a degradation is detected. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the degradation includes a reduced battery voltage. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4  wherein the degradation includes a reduced supply pressure. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4  wherein the degradation includes a stopped engine ignition. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein valves of the valve assembly are de-energized by default. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein a degree of air provided into the housing is responsive to operating conditions. 
     
     
       10. A method of operating an automatic tire inflation system of a vehicle, comprising:
 during a non-fording mode, and responsive to atmospheric pressure, adjusting a valve of the automatic tire inflation system to measure tire pressure and/or provide an increase or decrease of pressure within a tire of the vehicle; and 
 during a user-selected fording mode, providing one or more pulses of air into a cavity of a housing of a control unit, the cavity housing valves and electronics of the automatic tire inflation system, in response to a cavity pressure of the housing being above a threshold relative to atmospheric pressure. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein providing pulses of air into the control unit includes adjusting a valve within the housing. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  further comprising, during the fording mode, decreasing a frequency of pulses in response to a degradation. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein the degradation includes a reduced battery voltage. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  wherein the degradation includes stopped engine ignition. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12  wherein the degradation includes a reduced supply pressure. 
     
     
       16. A method of operating an automatic tire inflation system of a vehicle, comprising:
 during a non-fording mode, and responsive to atmospheric pressure, adjusting a valve of the automatic tire inflation system to measure atmospheric pressure and tire pressure with a single pressure sensor, and further to provide an increase or decrease of pressure within a tire of the vehicle responsive thereto; and 
 during a user-selected fording mode, measuring enclosure pressure with the sensor and providing one or more pulses of air into a cavity of a housing of a control unit, the cavity housing valves and electronics of the automatic tire inflation system, in response to a comparison of the enclosure pressure relative to the atmospheric pressure measured during the non-fording mode. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  further comprising, during the fording mode, decreasing a frequency of pulses in response to a first degree of degradation. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  further comprising, during the fording mode, further decreasing the frequency of pulses in response to a second, greater, degree of degradation.